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Abstract:

In Brief:

To determine the quantitative effect of ligation of segmental arteries on the blood vessels in the spinal cord, 5 segmental vertebral arteries (T7–T11) of fresh cadavers were ligated unilaterally and bilaterally, and the respective quantity and density of the blood vessels was measured at different levels.

Abstract:

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We have measured rates of oxygen and glucose consumption and of lactic acid production by bovine disc nucleus pulposus cells in vitro as a function of nutrient concentrations and pH. From these results, we have derived metabolic-rate equations that take the interdependence of these factors into account.

Abstract:

In Brief:

Transgene expression in the intervertebral disc using an adeno-associated virus vector was evaluated. The immune response to the vector is measured and gene expression evaluated. AAV is a safer vector than adenoviral vectors and shows an excellent gene expression profile in the rabbit intervertebral disc even after previous adeno-associated virus exposure.

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This study determined in a sequential series of bovine intervertebral discs that level-dependent differences in cell proliferation and GAG synthesis were dependent on disc level and that these differences were propagated through monolayer culture. Biochemical differences in GAG and collagen type and content also correlated to disc level.

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Recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 on a hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate-collagen sponge enhanced anterior spinal fusion and induced significant new bone formation extending beyond the margins of the original discectomy and anterior vertebral body. However, this new bone formation did not extend beyond the posterior confines of the vertebral body to encroach on the spinal canal in a thoracoscopically instrumented pig model.

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The role of apoptotic mechanisms in scoliotic discs was investigated in 70 surgically obtained intervertebral discs by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. A significantly elevated number of apoptotic cells could be detected in the nucleus compared to the other areas and in the apex versus the nonapex discs.

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This study examined the effect of cyclic loading on screw pull-out force and the correlation between the pull-out force and the screw insertion torque of bicortical sacral pedicle screw fixations penetrating the anterior sacral cortex or the S1 superior endplate. The mean maximum insertion torque and mean pull-out force following cyclic loading were significantly higher for bicortical fixation to the S1 endplate than bicortical fixation to the anterior cortex. The pull-out force and insertion torque showed high correlation in both groups.

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Healthy volunteers were subjected to left lateral impacts with their head rotated either right or left to determine the cervical muscle response. Head rotation in a left lateral impact reduces the overall muscles response and may thus be protective in regards to muscle injury.

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Existing systematic reviews are unclear regarding the effects of bed rest for different types of low back pain. By including 2 new trials, analyzing acute low back pain and sciatica separately and assessing the quality of evidence with a systematic and explicit method, this updated review revealed a somewhat different effect of bed rest for acute low back pain and sciatica.

Abstract:

In Brief:

Our study revealed the health-related quality of life of patients with low back pain is significantly less than healthy persons in the physical and psychological domains. The health-related quality of life promotion of these patients seemed to depend on the improvement of functional status and psychological factors more than simple pain relief.

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A validation study was done in which reconstructed three-dimensional rotational x-ray images were quantitatively compared with corresponding anatomic sections. The reconstructed midsagittal images were accurate in all measured parameters. The three-dimensional rotational x-ray technique may prove to be valuable for less invasive spine surgery.

Abstract:

In Brief:

The expression of estrogen receptor and the severity of facet arthritis were observed by immunohistochemical staining after harvesting the articular cartilage of the facet joints. The expression of estrogen receptor correlated with the severity of facet arthritis. A significantly increased expression of estrogen receptor was found in degenerative spondylolisthesis compared with spinal stenosis. The higher expression of estrogen receptor might be a causative factor for degenerative spondylolisthesis.

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The Oswestry Disability Index’s culturally sensitive Korean translation produced by our team was validated by this study. The results indicate that the Korean version of the ODI is a reliable and valid instrument for the measurement of disability in Korean patients with lower back problems.

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A 16-item patient self-report questionnaire and a 10-item clinician questionnaire of disability risk factors were used to predict function and work outcomes among 568 patients presenting to occupational health clinics for acute (=14 days) occupational low back pain. One-month functional improvement and return to work were more strongly predicted by employer factors and self-ratings of pain and mood than by health history or physical examination. The results suggest early intervention for high-risk patients should focus on job factors, pain coping strategies, and expectations for recovery.

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In Brief:

We investigated health care utilization following the onset of occupational back pain. Eight percent of workers do not receive care. Medical physicians, often in combination with physical therapists or chiropractors, treat almost 90% of workers who receive care. Receiving care and the type of care received are associated with demographic characteristics, severity of injury, occupation, and employer.

Abstract:

In Brief:

Midterm results of spinal ligamentoplasty were investigated in 64 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis. Although vertebral slip was not improved, the operative level was stabilized in lordosis with segmental motion. Spinal ligamentoplasty is an effective alternative to spinal arthrodesis in the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis with minimal disc space narrowing and coronal facet tropism.

Abstract:

In Brief:

A clinical and radiologic study evaluating the outcome after dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine in initial degenerative disc disease combined with disc prolapse. The results showed no progression of disc degeneration in the stabilization group compared with accelerated degenerative changes in a group of solitaire nucleotomy.

Abstract:

In Brief:

We report a case of traumatic atlantooccipital dislocation complicated by the development of anterior (retropharyngeal) and posterolateral (occipitocervical) pseudomeningoceles, as well as the late development of syringohydromyelia.